Modular chart

ABSTRACT

A rigid rectangular mounting panel unit provides a fixed rectangular base to support a markable data sheet which is marginally designated by data insignia in one way or another. This will optionally be in terms of chart-like column or listing headings, or in terms of Cartesian-like coordinates for a proposed graph, or the like. A rectangular extruded grid frame unit is hingedly connected to the mounting panel for swinging movement to and from an operative position in which it parallels the mounting panel in direct juxtaposition thereover; and the vertical and horizontal extrusion parts of the frame uniformly present inwardly extending flange formations defining a rectangular opening to frame the data sheet. Sets of parallel, horizontally and vertically extending grid elements visually subdivide the area of said sheet from top-to-bottom and side-toside, in suggested minimum spacings of said respective elements from one another of, say, one inch; thus visually outlining spaces at which ascertained graph or chart data may be inscribed on the sheet. For the purpose of affording releasable frame connections of said grid elements, which are preferably of elastic cord material, the respective horizontal and vertical extrusions of the frame have spaced slot and notch formations behind which opposite ends of the stretchable grid elements are releasably anchored under tension, and by which the spacings of said elements are accurately set up and maintained.

United States Patent 91 Rondello 51 May 28, 1974 1 1 MODULAR CHART [76] Inventor: William R. Rondello, 18420 Stephens Dr., East Detroit, Mich. 48021 [22] Filed: June 15, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 263,092

[52] US. Cl 35/7 R, 35/24 B [51] Int. Cl. G09b 19/18 [58] Field of Search 37/7, 24 R, 24 B, 26-28; 40/63 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,922,229 8/1933 Burke 35/27 2,941,314 6/1960 Schweiger.... 35/7 R 3,063,162 11/1962 Quinn 35/26 3,142,288 7/1964 Hirt, Jr 35/24 R X 3,528,182 9/1970 Johnson... 35/24 R 3,624,924 12/1971 Huber 35/24 R 3,680,525 8/1972 Berge 35/24 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,147,605 6/1957 France 40/63 R 689,333 3/1953 Great Britain 40/63 R 1,407,114 6/1965 France 40/63 R Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner.l. 1'1. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belkn ap [57] ABSTRACT A rigid rectangular mounting panel unit provides a fixed rectangular base to support a markable data sheet which is marginally designated by data insignia in one way or another. This will optionally be in terms of chart-like column or listing headings, or in terms of Cartesian-like coordinates for a proposed graph, or the like. A rectangular extruded grid frame unit is hingedly connected to the mounting panel for swinging movement to and from an operative position in which it parallels the mounting panel in direct juxtaposition thereover; and the vertical'and horizontal extrusion parts of the frame uniformly present inwardly extending flange formations defining a rectangular opening to frame the data sheet. Sets of parallel, horizontally and vertically extending grid elements visually subdivide the area of said sheet from top-to-bottom and side-to-side, in suggested minimum spacings of said respective elements from one another of, say, one inch; thus visually outlining spaces at which ascertained graph or chart data may be inscribed on the sheet. For the purpose of affording releasable frame connections of said grid elements, which are preferably of elastic cord material, the respective horizontal and vertical extrusions of the frame have spaced slot and notch formations behind which opposite ends of the stretchable grid elements are releasably anchored under tension, and by which the spacings of said elements are accurately set up and maintained.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures a e/l MODULAR CHART BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The modular chart or graph device is capable of use in many segments of commerce and industry in which it is desirable to set up and maintain a visual representation of data, or indicia of any sort derived therefrom, for use in a wide variety of ways, for example, in factory inventory control, project status, work load objectives, schedule comparison, property listings, varying unit and total commodity prices, etc. Use of the device in making photographic reproduction, from time to time and/or in mass, of data thus graphically portrayed is also contemplated.

As indicated above, the invention is of particular value in making recordations of these sorts in which an availability of both uniformly sized abscissa and ordinate spaces, as in a conventional line or block graph, or variably sized column spaces, as in a conventional listing or chart, is required.

2. Description of the Prior Art A search has revealed the following patents:

Dasey, US Pat. No. 2,610,413, Sept. 16, I952;

Hirt, US. Pat. No. 3,142,288, July 28, I964;

Prihil, US. Pat. No. 3,156,056, Nov. 10, I964.

Dasey relates to a method of making a te'mplet for factory lay-out planning; and the use of sheets ruled vertically and horizontally in the standard Cartesian manner is the sole pertinent feature of this disclosure. No movable grid structure is employed. Hirt shows the use of a frame to support-grid-like strips extending parallel to one another in planes transverse of the frame, but not in the intersecting grid line context of the present invention; moreover, there is no pivotal relationship of such frame to a rigid mounting panel presenting a markable surface. Pribil shows the use of a transparent sheet on a mounting board, the sheet carrying intersecting grid markings, and that is all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention affords a modular type of data presentation device comprised in a very simple way of pivotally articulated mounting panel and guide frame units, with the aid of which many types of linear or block graph, chart, listing or other visual representation may be laid out with ease and speed by a plant record keeper, statistician or other data assembler. The mounting panel unit, in one adaptation as faced by a rectangular sheet of fiberglass or like smooth surface material on which temporary or permanent inscriptions are made, is rigidly backed by a plyboard, pressboard or composition hardboard panel; and the sheet. permanently or temporarily marked in terms of abscissae, or-

dinates or column indicia, then has desired graphic orchart data indicia inscribed thereon with the assistance of the directly superposed guide frame unit. Guide line cord components of the last-named unit visually define on the fiberglass sheet appropriately sized graph spaces or column spaces of variable or uniform area and/or shape, in any or all of which appropriate graph representations, chart entries or the like may be made. These data are preferably entered by a water soluble inkimpregnated felt-tip marker, enabling their ready erasure with a damp cloth when they have served their purpose.

In the alternative, the mounting panel component,

mentioned manner, may simply serve as a rigid support on which an appropriately sized rectangular sheet of graph or plain paper is secured adhesively or otherwise, being removed upon completion of the graphic reproduction for possible substitution of another similar or dissimilar sheet, or for access to and use of the fiberglass marking sheet. I

The line-defining grid components of the pivotal grid frame are in the form of elastically stretchable cords carrying adjacent each end thereof an enlarged bead, which beads serve as anchoring elements for the cord. Upon stretching of the latter across the open center of the frame, with its ends selectively positioned in uniformly spaced slots or grooves of opposite bead troughs rigid with the grid frame, the beads are dropped into said troughs and the cord released, still in tension and firmly anchored on the frame. Said grid cords are readily and quickly released and relocated in the event, for

' example, it is desired to increase or alter the size or shape of the areas visually defined thereby, as by the application of additional or fewer bead-ended cords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an elevational view, partially broken away, of the device of the invention as embodied in a Cartesian graph-like form featuring marginal abscissae and ordinate markings, the view depicting a typical line graph entered on a mounting panel surface under guidance of these coordinates;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the device as alternatively contemplated for use in the lay-out of a columnar chart or listing;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale view, partially broken away, in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 1, indicating in dotted line at the right the manner in which a bead-ended grid line cord may be manually released at its anchor bead from an anchoring trough formation of the grid frame;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, similarly enlarged view in vertical section on line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the guide frame as swung upwardly for direct access to a sheet surface of the latter on the mounting panel, also for access to the grid anchoring beads of the frame; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in section on broken line 5-5 of FIG. 3, further showing the cord anchoring arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 represent alternative modes of use, selected from many possible, of the data display device 10 of the invention. Structural features of said device are later detailed; for the present it suffices to state that it generally comprises a rectangular grid frame unit 12 of any desired size releasably juxtaposed over and parallel to a mounting panel unit, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 14. Frame unit 12 is constututed by a pair of upper and lower horizontal extrusions 15 of aluminum or other extrudable metal or non-metallic material, and a pair of coacting vertical similar extrusions 16, these parts being secured in rigid rectangular outline at mitered corners 17 of the frame, as by concealed standard angle plate brackets.

A grid line sub-assembly, generally designated 18, extends across the rectangular opening defined by frame extrusions 15, 16; and the nature and mode of mounting this grid unit to the frame- 12 are hereinafter described in detail in reference to FIGSv 3, 4 and 5. Mounting panel unit 14 presents, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, a markable surface sheet member 20 which is optionally constituted in one way or another, as will .be described; for the present purposes of FIGS. 1 and 2 the sheet 20 represents any of such alternatives.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the display device is utilized as a data graph,.in which equal area subdivisions or spaces 21 are defined as viewed through intersecting line components of the grid structure l8; and the exposed sheet member therefore displays to the eye a most simple set of horizontal, Cartesian-like abscissa indicia 22 and a related sets of vertical ordinate indicia 23. By reference to these coordinates, the user of the device 10 is thus enabled quickly and easily to lay out a typical line graph G reflecting the combination of basic parameters identified by the marked coordinates 22 and 23 of sheet 20. Block-type graphing is of course also contemplated.

In actual use of the device 10 as a graph or related unit, the abscissa and ordinate or heading indicia 22, 23 may be temporarily applied, changing in nature as variants in use arise from time to time, or the indicia 22, 23 may be permanent. In the first instance they may be hand-marked or printed on a plain paper sheet or film which is temporarily and removably attached, as by a pressure sensitive adhesive, to the fixed mounting panels markable sheet 20. As indicated above, the latter is by preference, the well-known Owens/Corning sheet product identified as Fiberglas, however, other known and more or less comparable smooth, erasably markable sheets will serve the purpose.

Alternatively, on the other hand, the sheet 20 may be considered to be of a conventional ruled graph paper, thus further subdividing visually and permanently the graph areas 21 outlined by the grid unit 18; or further in the alternative sheet 20 may be a transparent vinyl or like plastic film disposed over a graph-marked paper sheet, upon which film ultimate data graph representation G istraced.

In the second instance in which the horizontal and vertical headings or footings 22, 23 are permanent and to be employed for repeated performance, these indicia may be imprinted upon margin strips attached permanently and directly on inside margins of the grid frame 12, they may be marked on vinyl or other plastic film 4 it suffices in the interest of brevity to state that the mounting plate surface exposed to view, again typically designated 20, may be constituted temporarily or peradhered or otherwise tightly secured to panel 14, or the indicia 22, 23 be'represented by a combination of superposed plastic film and graph paper, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

The representation in FIG. 2 of the display device, i.e., as a chart or listing, will in most instances involve a revision of the spacing, size and/or shape of the areas 21 visually defined at the, interstices of the grid subassembly 18. Thus, in this adaptation of data display device 10 the markable sheet 20 (whatever may be its specific nature as disclosed in connection with FIG. 1) is visually marked by the rearranged grid unit 18 to receive entries under vertical column headings 25 extending horizontally across the top of the opening defined by grid frame 12. Manifestly, the grid 18 thereof may outline sheet spaces 21 of uniform or varying shape, size or relationship to one another. For the rest,

manently in accordance with the options mentioned above in regard to the graph embodiment, save for the observation that coordinate graph paper will not ordinarily be the choice. Similarly, the column designations 25 may be'temporarily or permanently inscribed or printed in relation to the sheet 20, as previously described.-

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 41 and 5, the mounting panel unit 14 is shown therein as comprising a rigid mountingpanel 26 proper fabricated of an appropriate non-warping'sheet material in a suitable thickness, such as Masonite, plyboard, composition or pressboard, or the like, all relatively inexpensive and widely available yet well suited to mypurpose. Appropriate corner sup port posts 27 will support mounting plate unit in a hori-'v zontal position, on a portable easel or in a suspended version to afford a proper wall spacing. The markable sheet 20, whatever its nature may be and whether permanently or temporarily mounted, need only be of a rectangular area somewhat exceeding that outlined by the grid frame 12.

' As mentioned above, said frame is constituted by the pairs of horizontal and vertical extrusions 15, 16 rigidly locked to one another at mitered corners 17, the extru-- sions being identical in cross-section, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each comprises a pair of'parallel, transversely spaced outer and inner walls or side flanges 28, 29, respectively, which are integrally connected across thetop thereof by a frontal flange having a horizontal ledge'or outer flange portion 30 projecting inwardly of the wall portion 29 and an inner flange portion 38 to be subsequently described; and it is in the frame corner zones of miters 17 that angle plate brackets 31 are connected directly (FIG. 3) to the outer surfaces of the abutted inner extrusion walls 29, as by screw means (now shown), said brackets thus spanning the miter joints to complete a very rigid grid frame assembly.

in a similar manner, and asbest shown in FIG. 4, said inner extrusion wall 29 of the top frame extrusion 15 has the outer leaves 32 of a pair of standard, longitudinally spaced hardware hinges 33 secured thereto by short screws 34. Inner leaves 35 of these hinges are tightly screwed onto the rear of mounting panel member 26, thus to afford a frame-to-plate pivotal connection about which grid frame 12 may be swung, as indicated in FIG. 4, for access purposes mentioned above. An appropriate snap detent or catch device at the lower horizontal extrusion 15 provides a releasable hold of frame 12 as operatively juxtaposed (FIG. 3) over mounting. plate unit 14.

Inwardly of each of the four frame parts=l5, l 6, these extrusions are of a cross-section affording an integral grid cord retaining trough formation 37 of outwardly concave arcuate outline in section, for a purpose to be described. However, as an alternative this formation may be constituted by a second frame adjunct nonintegral with but rigidly screw or otherwise-connected to the extrusion 15 .or 16.

Still further inwardly of the horizontal extrusion ledge formationor outer flange portion 30, and also of the retainer trough part or portion 37, each extrusion presents an integral, mildly downwardly inclined lip or inner flange portion or formation 38 coextensive in length therewith, and with trough part 37; and at equal intervals of, say, one inch along the length of said cord anchor trough 37 the latter is milled to provide a series of grooves or slots 39. An enlarged marginal formation of the inner flange portion 38 is milled at corresponding spacings therealong to afford a series of notches 40; and the important purpose of these slots and notches will soon appear.

The grid sub-assembly or unit 18 is constituted by preference of a series of elongated horizontal grid lenths or components 41 of a readily available, elastically stretchable fabric cord material, and a corresponding series of like vertically disposed elongated and elastically stretchable grid elements 42, the respective sets of cords paralleling one another in a uniform interstice pattern as displayed in FIG. 1; and the same cord components visually define the non-uniform pattern of FIG. 2. Continuous serpentine lengths of the cord stock may be laced to provide the lengths, but individual straight lengths are much preferred.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the grid cords 41, 42 is provided fairly closely adjacent opposite ends thereof with an anchoring bead member 43 which is longitudinally restrained relative to the cord in a simple fashion, i.e., by a knot in an outwardly overhanging cord terminus 44, the latter thus providing a finger grip for the user. As appropriately tensioned manually grid elements 41, 42 have their anchoring beads 43 seated in the oppositerespective arcuate anchoring trough formations 37, the cord elements proper being disposed in the locating slots 39 of the trough; and inwardly of this anchor zone the cords 41, 42 lie in the marginal notches 39 of the respective flange formations 38 of the extrusions. Thus the cords 41, 42 are very accurately positioned relative to one another and grid frame 12 as a whole to afford the interstices of grid subassembly or unit 18 in which data marking is done on the sheet 20.

When it is desired to alter the arrangement and/or spacing of the grid openings, as in converting the graph embodiment of FIG. 1 to a chart embodiment per FIG. 2, or vice versa, the user need only lift grid frame 12 and grasp as many as needed of the cord tail extensions 44 to deanchor the corresponding bead 43 (as indicated in dotted line in FIG. 3), whereupon the grid component may be appropriately removed from and optionally replaced at a different location upon the extrusion parts or 16, or it may be discarded for the time being if enlargement of the spaces 21 is desired, or supplemented if the opposite is the case.

Various alterations of the structure described above are, of course, contemplated. For example, in an application in which the display device is mounted permanently upon a wall, the hinging ifits grid frame 12 horizontally along the upper edge may well make it awkward to change the number of or re-position the grid elements 41, 42 in the manner mentioned above, the grid being in a horizontal open position. in such and other instances, hinging of the frame on a vertical axis along either side thereof is contemplated.

Moreover, and particularly the case in large chart or graph applications, a fully and bodily removable, snapon or like type of connection of frame 12 to panel unit 14 may be found desirable or necessary. Likewise, as an alternative to the bead and trough type anchoring arrangement described above, individual elastic grid cords equipped at each end with eyelets and gripping tails may be employed, hooking onto appropriate individual anchor parts or formations at sides of the grid frame, or, as suggested above, a continuous elongated cord interlaced in a sinuous outline may be equipped with loose eyelets enabling the local anchoring of such cords as desired along opposite upright and/or vertical frame sides.

What is claimed is:

1. A data-receiving device comprising a relatively flat mounting panel unit presenting a markable datareceiving surface and a grid frame unit having a rectangular frame formed by two pairs of frame members, the frame members of each pair being parallel and spaced apart, with the frame members of one pair arranged at right angles to the frame members of the other pair,

said frame members surrounding a rectangular opening for viewing the data-receiving surface on said panel unit, said frame members each haaving a frontal flange having inner and outer flange portions and a side flange integral with and perpendicular to said outer flange portion, said panel unit being received within said grid frame unit with said frontal flanges overlying said panel unit and said side flanges surrounding said panel unit, said inner flange portions surrounding said opening and providing a border therefor, said inner flange portions being inclined with respect to said outer flange portions and extending therefrom in a direction away from said side flanges towards said panel unit, siad inner flange portions terminating in edges engageable with said panel unit, hinge means interposed between the side flange of one of said frame members and an edge portion of said mounting panel unit for permitting swinging movement between said paneland grid frame units, elongated troughs connected to the outer flange portions of the frontal flanges of said frame members on the side thereof facing said panel unit, said troughs having an arcuate cross section and terminating in terminal edges which are spaced from said panel unit and from said opening, with the terminal edges of said troughs facing said side flanges in a parallel relationship, a plurality of slots in the terminal edges of said troughs, the slots in the trough of one frame member of each pair of frame members being aligned with the slots in the trough of the other frame member of the pair said grid frame unit further including in said rectangular opening one or more intersecting sets of parallel, elastic and elongated grid elements overlying the data-receiving surface on said panel unit, said grid elements having anchoring bead members provided on the ends thereof, each grid element having opposed end portions thereon received in a pair of aligned slots of parallel frame members, with the anchoring bead members on the grid elements mating and releasably engaging the troughs of parallel frame members, said slots laterally confining and predeterminedly spacing said grid elements, said troughs and said bead members being hidden from view when said panel unit is received in said grid frame unit.

2. The data-receiving device of claim 1, in which said grid elements comprise line-simulating lengths of elastic cord material removably secured to said troughs by said anchoring bead members, said bead members being spaced inwardly from the ends of said lengths to provide finger tabs for facilitating the removal of lengths of elastic cord material from the troughs of said frame members.

3. The data-receiving device of claim 1 wherein second slots are provided in the edges of said inner flange portions, said second slots being aligned with said slots provided in said troughs and receive portions of said grid elements. 

1. A data-receiving device comprising a relatively flat mounting panel unit presenting a markable data-receiving surface and a grid frame unit having a rectangular frame formed by two pairs of frame members, the frame members of each pair being parallel and spaced apart, with the frame members of one pair arranged at right angles to the frame members of the other pair, said frame members surrounding a rectangular opening for viewing the datareceiving surFace on said panel unit, said frame members each haaving a frontal flange having inner and outer flange portions and a side flange integral with and perpendicular to said outer flange portion, said panel unit being received within said grid frame unit with said frontal flanges overlying said panel unit and said side flanges surrounding said panel unit, said inner flange portions surrounding said opening and providing a border therefor, said inner flange portions being inclined with respect to said outer flange portions and extending therefrom in a direction away from said side flanges towards said panel unit, siad inner flange portions terminating in edges engageable with said panel unit, hinge means interposed between the side flange of one of said frame members and an edge portion of said mounting panel unit for permitting swinging movement between said panel and grid frame units, elongated troughs connected to the outer flange portions of the frontal flanges of said frame members on the side thereof facing said panel unit, said troughs having an arcuate cross section and terminating in terminal edges which are spaced from said panel unit and from said opening, with the terminal edges of said troughs facing said side flanges in a parallel relationship, a plurality of slots in the terminal edges of said troughs, the slots in the trough of one frame member of each pair of frame members being aligned with the slots in the trough of the other frame member of the pair said grid frame unit further including in said rectangular opening one or more intersecting sets of parallel, elastic and elongated grid elements overlying the data-receiving surface on said panel unit, said grid elements having anchoring bead members provided on the ends thereof, each grid element having opposed end portions thereon received in a pair of aligned slots of parallel frame members, with the anchoring bead members on the grid elements mating and releasably engaging the troughs of parallel frame members, said slots laterally confining and predeterminedly spacing said grid elements, said troughs and said bead members being hidden from view when said panel unit is received in said grid frame unit.
 2. The data-receiving device of claim 1, in which said grid elements comprise line-simulating lengths of elastic cord material removably secured to said troughs by said anchoring bead members, said bead members being spaced inwardly from the ends of said lengths to provide finger tabs for facilitating the removal of lengths of elastic cord material from the troughs of said frame members.
 3. The data-receiving device of claim 1 wherein second slots are provided in the edges of said inner flange portions, said second slots being aligned with said slots provided in said troughs and receive portions of said grid elements. 